What materials to buy a beginner of watercolor

When you start watercolour painting it can be a bit daunting knowing what materials to buy. Here is a list that I would suggest and is ideal for starting the Watercolor Online Course this course is ideal for beginners and those who would like to improve further with watercolours at £45.00 for six projects if you would like more information just email me

Watercolour paper either a block which means it is already stretched and ready for painting, after finishing simply take a knife and run it round the edges and take the paper off, you are then ready to work on a new piece of paper.
A watercolour pad or singular piece of watercolour paper these all come in different weights 140lb I find that this does need stretching or 200lb or even 300lb both of these can be painted on without stretching. I like to work on a 'Not' surface. This has a very slightly rough texture ideal for landscape painting.
Bockingford, Fabriano or Arches are all excellent watercolour paper.

Watercolour paint comes in either tubes or pan sets I prefer tubes when painting indoors I find I can achieve more tonal strength with these, but pan sets are ideal for outdoor painting.
Winsor and Newton or Daler Rowney both do student quality which is ideal to start painting with and then to move onto artist quality

The First Online Watercolour Course uses the following colours
Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Winsor Blue, Gamboge Yellow, Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Viridian, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Red and some White Gouache paint

Brushes I enjoy using a 1inch Hake, number 12 and 8 round, 1inch flat synthetic and number 6 and 4 sable riggers these can all be bought from  http://www.rosemaryandco.com/

Mixing palettes can be bought but working at home you can't beat white china saucers!
A large container for water, I like the large collapsible water containers.
2b pencil, rubber, masking tape and a small sponge I find a household washing up sponge ideal torn into small pieces